Bobbin Fixing Device and Bobbin Removing Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a bobbin fixing device capable of fixing a bobbin easily with a simple structure and also provides a bobbin removing device capable of removing a bobbin readily with a simple structure. Stoppers  35  project from the level of the outer surface of a rotating shaft  23 . Sloping surface of each stopper  35  is pressed by a bobbin  10 , so that the stopper is moved to an inner position P 2 . The bobbin  10  is attached so as to position on a positioning member  25 . When the bobbin  10  is brought into contact with the positioning member  25 , each support  34 B upwardly moves together with a release button  32  biased by a spring  33 , so that one end of each arm  34 A on the associated support  34 B moves upward and the other end thereof close to the associated stopper  35  moves downward. Thus, each stopper  35  outwardly moves and projects until a restricting face  35 C of the stopper  35  is brought into contact with the bobbin  10 . At that time, a retaining face  35 B of each stopper  35  is in contact with the top surface of the bobbin  10 , thus restricting the movement of the bobbin  10  in the direction (Y direction) in which the bobbin  10  is removed from the rotating shaft  23.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to bobbin fixing devices for rotatablyholding a bobbin used in a winding machine or a stranding machine. Thepresent invention also relates to bobbin removing devices for removing abobbin from a bobbin fixing device which rotatably holds the bobbin usedin a winding machine or a stranding machine.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, in supplying a wire to a winding machine or a strandingmachine, a bobbin fixing device for rotatably holding a bobbin is usedso that the wire is drawn while the bobbin on which the wire is woundedis being rotated. Methods for fixing a bobbin include methods usingpower, such as air or electric power, and manual mechanical methodsusing, for example, a slot lever, a screw, or a set pin.

The use of the method using air or electric power complicates thestructure of the fixing device, resulting in an increase in size andcost of the device. On the other hand, the use of the method using aslot lever, a screw, or a set pin simplifies the structure of the devicebecause power is not needed, thus reducing the cost of the device.Unfortunately, the number of steps for bobbin attachment/removalincreases, leading to reduced working efficiency.

For example, a set-pin type bobbin fixing device 150 described in PatentDocument 1 requires the following steps: Referring to FIG. 15, arotating shaft 155 is inserted into a spool core 11 of a bobbin 10, therotating shaft 155 is rotated and positioned so that an engagementgroove 155C is at the front, and a retaining pin 158 is fitted into theengagement groove 155C. To remove the bobbin 10, an operator removes theretaining pin 158, so that the operator can remove the bobbin 10 fromthe rotating shaft 155. Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2003-182935

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

The present invention is made in consideration of the above problems andan object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin fixing devicecapable of fixing a bobbin readily with a simple structure and furtherprovide a bobbin removing device capable of removing a bobbin easilywith a simple structure.

Means for Solving the Problems

To solve the problems, the bobbin fixing device according to the presentinvention includes a rotating shaft to which a bobbin is attached, apositioning member which is in contact with a first surface of theattached bobbin to position the bobbin in the attaching direction inwhich the bobbin is attached to the rotating shaft, and movable members,each of which is movable between a projecting position where the movablemember projects from the level of the outer surface of the rotatingshaft and an inner position inside the level of the outer surface and isin contact with a second surface of the attached bobbin in theprojecting position to restrict the movement of the bobbin in theremoving direction in which the bobbin is removed from the rotatingshaft.

According to the present invention, the bobbin fixing device has therotating shaft to which the bobbin is attached. The first surface of thebobbin attached to the rotating shaft is in contact with the positioningmember to position the bobbin in the attaching direction. The secondsurface of the bobbin attached to the rotating shaft is in contact withthe movable members to restrict the movement of the bobbin in theremoving direction. Each movable member is movable between theprojecting position where the movable member projects from the level ofthe outer surface of the rotating shaft and the inner position insidethe level of the outer surface. In the projecting position, each movablemember is in contact with the second surface of the attached bobbin.During the attachment of the bobbin, each movable member is arranged inthe inner position inside the level of the outer surface of the rotatingshaft.

In the above-described structure, the movement of each movable member tothe inner position enables easier attachment of the bobbin to therotating shaft. Each movable member is moved to the projecting positionafter the attachment, thus readily fixing the bobbin to the rotatingshaft.

The bobbin fixing device according to the present invention may furtherinclude a release member and connecting members. The release member isattached to one end of the rotating shaft and is movable in the axialdirection of the rotating shaft. Each connecting member connects thecorresponding movable member to the release member so that the movablemember moves between the projecting position and the inner position inresponse to the movement of the release member in the axial direction.

In the above-described structure, the release member attached to the endof the rotating shaft is moved in the axial direction of the rotatingshaft, thus allowing each movable member to move between the projectingposition and the inner position.

In the bobbin fixing device according to the present invention, eachmovable member may have an outwardly downwardly sloping outer surfacesuch that the height of projection increases toward the positioningmember.

In the above-described structure, during the attachment of the bobbin,the first surface of the attached bobbin presses the sloping outersurface of each movable member, thus easily moving the movable member tothe inner position.

The bobbin fixing device according to the present invention may furtherinclude a biasing member, a release restricting portion, and projectionrestricting portions. The biasing member biases the release member awayfrom the rotating shaft and allows each movable member to move to theprojecting position. The release restricting portion restricts themovement of the release member away from the rotating shaft. Eachprojection restricting portion restricts the outward movement of theassociated movable member from the projecting position.

In the above-described structure, the biasing member biases the releasemember away from the rotating shaft but the release restricting portionrestricts this movement. Thus, the release member is arranged in therestricted position. The biasing member also allows each movable memberto move to the projecting position but each projection restrictingportion restricts the outward movement of the associated movable memberfrom the projecting position. Thus, each movable member is arranged inthe restricted position.

To solve the above-described problems, the bobbin removing deviceaccording to the present invention includes a holding member movable inthe axial direction of a rotating shaft of a bobbin fixing device whileholding a bobbin attached to the rotating shaft, the bobbin fixingdevice including the rotating shaft to which the bobbin is attached andmovable members, each movable member being movable between a projectingposition where the movable member projects from the level of the outersurface of the rotating shaft and an inner position inside the level ofthe outer surface and being in contact with a surface of the attachedbobbin in the projecting position to restrict the movement of the bobbinin the removing direction in which the bobbin is removed from therotating shaft. The bobbin fixing device includes a movement permittingmember that allows each movable member to move to the inner position andkeeps the movable member in the inner position until the holding membermoves the bobbin in the removing direction by a predetermined distance.

The bobbin removing device with the above-described structure is usedfor a bobbin fixing device including a rotating shaft to which a bobbinis attached and movable members, each movable member being movablebetween a projecting position where the movable member projects from thelevel of the outer surface of the rotating shaft and an inner positioninside the level of the outer surface and being in contact with asurface of the attached bobbin in the projecting position to restrictthe movement of the bobbin in the removing direction in which the bobbinis removed from the rotating shaft. To attach a bobbin to the bobbinfixing device, the bobbin is moved in the attaching direction in whichthe bobbin is attached to the rotating shaft while the bobbin is beingheld. During this movement, each movable member is disposed in the innerposition. When the bobbin is arranged to a predetermined fixed position,each movable member is arranged in the projecting position. Each movablemember in the projecting position is in contact with the surface of theattached bobbin to restrict the movement of the bobbin, thus fixing thebobbin. To remove the bobbin from the rotating shaft of the bobbinfixing device, the holding member holds the bobbin and the movementpermitting member allows each movable member to move to the innerposition. This movement enables the bobbin to move in the removingdirection. The movement permitting member keeps each movable member inthe inner position until the holding member moves the bobbin by apredetermined distance.

The bobbin removing device according to the present invention canreadily remove a bobbin, fixed to the rotating shaft, from the rotatingshaft without direct manual operation.

In the bobbin removing device according to the present invention, thebobbin fixing device may include a release member attached to one end ofthe rotating shaft such that the release member allows each movablemember to move to the inner position in response to the movement of thebobbin in the attaching direction in which the bobbin is attached to therotating shaft. The movement permitting member may include a pushingportion for pushing the release member in the attaching direction.

In the above-described structure, pushing the release member through thepushing portion enables the bobbin to move in the removing direction.

In the bobbin removing device according to present invention, themovement permitting member may be mounted on the holding member and bemoved to a pushing position, where the pushing portion pushes therelease member to arrange each movable member in the inner position, inresponse to the movement of the holding member to a holding positionwhere the holding member holds the bobbin.

In the above-described structure, the movement permitting member can bemoved together with the holding member. The simple structure can berealized.

In the bobbin removing device according to the present invention, theholding member may include outer-edge holding portions capable ofholding the outer-edge of a flange of the bobbin in the holdingposition. Each outer-edge holding portion may have an inwardlydownwardly sloping inner surface.

In the bobbin removing device with the above-described structure, tohold the bobbin, the outer-edge holding portions hold the outer edge ofthe flange of the bobbin. At that time, the pushing portion is moved tothe pushing position, thus pushing the release member. This allows themovement permitting member to be located in the inner position. Eachouter-edge holding portion has an inwardly downwardly sloping innersurface. Therefore, the bobbin is moved along the sloping surfaces inthe removing direction while being held by the outer-edge holdingportions. Thus, the bobbin can be easily removed from the rotating shaftwhile each movable member is kept in the inner position.

In the bobbin removing device according to the present invention, themovement permitting member may have an elastic member retractable in theaxial direction, one end of the elastic member being in contact with theholding member, the other end thereof being in contact with the pushingportion.

In the bobbin removing device with the above-described structure, themovement permitting member includes the elastic member. One end of theelastic member is in contact with the holding member and the other endthereof is in contact with the pushing portion. To hold the bobbinthrough the holding member, the holding member is moved and arranged inthe holding position and the movement permitting member is arranged inthe pushing position. At that time, the pushing portion pushes therelease member while retracting the elastic member. After the bobbin isheld by the holding member, the holding member is moved outwardly alongthe rotating shaft. At that time, the elastic member extends until theholding member is moved to a predetermined position and the pushingportion continues to push the release member. Thus, the bobbin can beeasily removed from the rotating shaft while each movable member is keptin the inner position.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the bobbin fixing device according to the presentinvention can fix a bobbin readily with a simple structure and thebobbin removing device according to the present invention can remove abobbin easily with a simple structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bobbin fixing device according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of the bobbin fixing deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention in a state where abobbin is fixed.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bobbin fixing device according to theembodiment of the present invention in the state where the bobbin isfixed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of the bobbin fixing deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention during attachmentof the bobbin.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of part of the bobbin fixing deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention during removal ofthe bobbin.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a bobbin removing device accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the bobbin removing device pressing arelease button in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the bobbin removing device holding a bobbin inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the bobbin removing device holding thebobbin in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,the bobbin being slightly raised.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the bobbin removing device in accordance withthe first embodiment of the present invention, a pushing portion of thedevice being away from the release button.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a bobbin removing device accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the bobbin removing device pushing a releasebutton in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the bobbin removing device holding abobbin in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing the bobbin removing device in accordance withthe second embodiment of the present invention, a pushing portion of thedevice being away from the release button.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional bobbin fixingdevice.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   10 bobbin    -   20 bobbin fixing device    -   21 base    -   23 rotating shaft    -   25 positioning member    -   32 release button    -   32A upper part    -   32C hole spring    -   34A arm    -   34B support    -   34 connecting portion    -   35 stopper    -   35B retaining face    -   35C restricting face    -   40 bobbin removing device    -   42 body    -   44 holding arm    -   46 movement permitting member    -   46A spring    -   46B pushing portion    -   50 bobbin removing device    -   52 body    -   54 holding arm    -   55 outer-edge holding portion    -   56 movement permitting member    -   P1 projecting position    -   P2 inner position

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A bobbin fixing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described below with reference to thedrawings. Referring to FIG. 1, a bobbin fixing device 20 according tothe present embodiment includes a base 21, a stationary shaft 22, arotating shaft 23, and a bobbin retainer 30. The base 21 is ablock-shaped member for attachment of the bobbin fixing device 20 to astationary stage 60 of an apparatus, e.g., a winding machine, to which abobbin is mounted. The stationary shaft 22 is fixed on the base 21. Therotating shaft 23 is a spool on the exterior of the stationary shaft 22and is coupled to the stationary shaft 22 through bearings 24A and 24B.A positioning member 25 projecting horizontally from the outer surfaceof the rotating shaft 23 to position the bobbin 10 in the direction X,in which the bobbin 10 is attached, is disposed at the lower end of therotating shaft 23. The positioning member 25 includes a positioningplate 25A disposed to be in contact with the bobbin 10, a flange-shapedpositioning-member body 25B on which the positioning plate 25A ismounted, and a projection 25C on the bottom surface of thepositioning-member body 25B. The positioning member 25 is set such thatthe projection 25C is fitted into a guide groove 60M on the stationarystage 60 of the bobbin setting device.

The bobbin retainer 30 includes an attaching portion 31, a releasebutton 32, a spring 33, connecting members 34, stoppers 35, and aretainer body 36.

Referring to FIG. 3, the retainer body 36 is circular as viewed from theaxial direction of the rotating shaft 23. Referring to FIG. 1, theattaching portion 31 is integrated with the lower part of the retainerbody 36. The attaching portion 31 is screwed to the upper part of therotating shaft 23, thus attaching the bobbin retainer 30 to the rotatingshaft 23.

Referring to FIG. 2, the release button 32 is fitted in a button hole36A located in the middle of the retainer body 36. The diameter of upperpart of the button hole 36A is larger than that of lower part thereof. Astep 36B corresponds to the boundary between the upper and lower partsof the button hole 36A. The release button 32 is composed of an upperportion 32A and a lower portion 32B. The diameter of the upper portion32A is slightly smaller than that of the upper part of the button hole36A. The diameter of the lower portion 32B is larger than that of theupper part of the button hole 36A and slightly smaller than that of thelower part of the button hole 36A.

The release button 32 has a hole 32C opened at the end of the lowerportion 32B so that the spring 33 can be arranged in the hole 32C. Theretractable spring 33 is arranged in the hole 32C such that the releasebutton 32 is spring-biased in the Y direction in which the releasebutton 32 is away from the rotating shaft 23. The movement in the Ydirection of the lower portion 32B of the release button 32 isrestricted by the step 36B. The upper portion 32A of the release button32 protrudes upward from the retainer body 36 while the lower portion32B is in contact with the step 36B.

The retainer body 36 has three through-holes 36C radially extending fromthe lower part of the button hole 36A. An inner wall defining eachthrough-hole 36C has a guide groove 36D extending in the radialdirection of the retainer body 36. In each through-hole 36C, theconnecting member 34 and the stopper 35, serving as a movable member,are arranged.

Each connecting member 34 includes a support 34B fixed to the bottom ofthe release button 32 and a long arm 34A extending outward in thecorresponding through-hole 36C. One end of each arm 34A is pivotablysecured to lower part of the corresponding support 34B through a pin N2.The other end thereof is pivotably secured to the corresponding stopper35 through a pin N1.

Each stopper 35 has a fitting portion 35A, which is arranged above thecorresponding arm 34A and fits into the corresponding guide groove 36Dof the retainer body 36 such that the fitting portion 35A is movablealong the guide groove 36D. In a normal state, an end portion of eachstopper 35 projects from the level of the outer surface of the rotatingshaft 23 (hereinafter, this position will be called “projecting positionP1”). Each stopper 35 has an outwardly downwardly sloping outer surfacesuch that the height of projection from the level of the outer surfaceof the rotary shaft 23 increases toward the lower side (the positioningmember 25). The lower surface of the projecting part of each stopper 35is shaped along a corner of the bobbin 10. The lower surface thereof hasa retaining face 35B and a restricting face 35C. When the retaining face35B is in contact with the upper surface of the bobbin 10, the retainingface 35B restricts the movement in the Y direction of the bobbin 10 andthe restricting face 35C is in contact with the chamfered corner of thebobbin 10.

Methods of attaching and removing the bobbin 10 to/from the bobbinfixing device 20 with the above-described structure will now bedescribed.

To attach the bobbin 10, the bobbin retainer 30 is inserted into acenter hole of the bobbin 10. Referring to FIG. 4, each stopper 35,projecting from the level of the outer surface of the rotating shaft 23,inwardly moves to a position (hereinafter, referred to as “innerposition P2”) as the sloping surface is pressed by the bobbin 10. Thus,the bobbin 10 can be moved to a position where the positioning member 25is disposed. During the movement of each stopper 35 to the innerposition P2, the fitting portion 35A inwardly moves in the correspondingguide groove 36D, the end of the arm 34A close to the stopper 35 movesinward, and the other end thereof on the support 34B moves downward.Consequently, the release button 32 moves downward.

When the bobbin 10 is brought into contact with the positioning member25, as shown in FIG. 2, the spring 33 causes each support 34B to moveupward together with the release button 32, so that the end of each arm34A on the support 34B moves upward, the other end thereof close to thestopper 35 moves outward, and each restricting face 35C moves to aposition where the restricting face 35C is in contact with the bobbin10. At that time, the corresponding retaining face 35B is in contactwith the upper surface of the bobbin 10, thus restricting the movementin the direction (Y direction) in which the bobbin 10 is removed fromthe rotating shaft 23.

In the bobbin fixing device 20 according to the present embodiment, whenthe bobbin retainer 30 is merely inserted into the bobbin 10, thestoppers 35 can easily prevent the bobbin 10 from coming off.

To remove the bobbin 10, the release button 32 is pressed downward.Thus, the supports 34B move downward as shown in FIG. 5, so that the endof each arm 34A close to the corresponding stopper 35 moves inward, thefitting portion 35A of each stopper 35 moves along the correspondingguide groove 36D, and each stopper 35 moves into the correspondingthrough-hole 36C. In this state, the bobbin 10 is moved upward, thusremoving the bobbin 10 from the bobbin fixing device 20. Pressing therelease button 32 is released, allowing the spring 33 to upwardly pressthe release button 32. Each stopper 35 is returned to the projectingposition P1 as described above.

In the bobbin fixing device 20 in accordance with the presentembodiment, the bobbin 10 can be easily removed by pressing the releasebutton 32.

In accordance with the present embodiment, a mechanism for moving eachstopper 35 between the projecting position P1 and the inner position P2in response to the upward or downward movement of the release button 32has been described. The mechanism for moving the stoppers 35 is notlimited to the above one. Any other mechanism can be used.

Preferred embodiments of a bobbin removing device according to thepresent invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

A bobbin removing device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described with reference to the drawings.Referring to FIG. 6, a bobbin fixing device 20 according to the presentembodiment is a device for fixing a bobbin 10 including a flange 10A anda shaft 10B. The structure of the bobbin fixing device 20 according tothe first embodiment is the same as that of the foregoing bobbin fixingdevice 20 in accordance with the present invention. A bobbin removingdevice 40 is a device for removing the bobbin 10 fixed to the bobbinfixing device 20.

Referring to FIG. 6, the bobbin removing device 40 in accordance withthe present embodiment includes a body 42, holding arms 44, and amovement permitting member 46. The body 42 includes a shaft 42A and aflange 42B. The shaft 42A is disposed on the extension of a rotatingshaft 23 of the bobbin fixing device 20. The shaft 42A is movable alongthe axial direction of the rotating shaft 23. The shaft 42A includes acylindrical portion and a flange portion on the bottom of thecylindrical portion and further has a hole R opened to the bobbin fixingdevice 20. The flange 42B is disposed on the bottom of the flangeportion of the shaft 42A.

The flange 42B is disc-shaped. The holding arms 44 are attached to theedge of the flange 42B. Each holding arm 44 includes an attachingportion 44A and an outer-edge holding portion 44B. Each attachingportion 44A is attached to the flange 42B and is movable in thedirection, shown by the arrow D, parallel to the top surface of theflange 10A of the bobbin 10. Each outer-edge holding portion 44B isL-shaped such that one part of the L-shaped outer-edge holding portion44B is perpendicular to the flange 10A and the other part thereof isparallel to the attaching portion 44A.

Referring to FIG. 7, the movement permitting member 46 includes a spring46A and a pushing portion 46B. The spring 46A is arranged in the hole Rsuch that the direction in which the spring 46A is retractable matchesthe axial direction of the rotating shaft 23. One end of the spring 46Ais in contact with the internal surface of the body 42 defining the holeR and the other end thereof is in contact with the pushing portion 46B.The elastic force of the spring 46A is set larger than that of a spring33. The pushing portion 46B has a flange part 46C at its one endadjacent to the spring 46A. The flange part 46C has a diameter largerthan that of the opening of the hole R. The other end of the pushingportion 46B is projected from the hole R so that the pushing portion 46Bcan push the release button 32.

The relative positions of the pushing portion 46B and the outer-edgeholding portions 44B are determined so that when the outer-edge holdingportion 44B of each holding arm 44 is located in a holding position H1under the flange 10A of the bobbin 10 in the axial direction of therotating shaft 23, the pushing portion 46B is located in a pushingposition H2 where the pushing portion 46B pushes a release button 32downward.

As for methods of attaching and removing the bobbin 10 to/from thebobbin fixing device 20 with the above-described structure, the methodfor attaching the bobbin is the same as that described above.

To remove the bobbin 10, the bobbin removing device 40 is moveddownward, i.e., in the X direction, thus arranging the outer-edgeholding portion 44B of each holding arm 44 in the holding position H1.When the pushing portion 46B is located in the pushing position H2, thedownward movement of the bobbin removing device 40 is stopped. In thisposition, the end of the pushing portion 46B is in contact with therelease button 32, so that the release button 32 is pushed in the Xdirection against the elastic force of the spring 46A through thepushing portion 46B. Consequently, each stopper 35 is retracted to theinner position P2 as shown in FIG. 7, so that the bobbin 10 is movablein the Y direction.

Referring to FIG. 8, each outer-edge holding portion 44B is inwardlymoved in the direction shown by the arrow D while the pushing portion46B is kept in that position, thus clamping the flange 10A of the bobbin10 (the position of each outer-edge holding portion 44B at that timewill be called “clamping position H3”). Then, the body 42 is moved inthe direction shown by the arrow Y. Since the elastic force of thespring 46A is larger than that of the spring 33, the pushing portion 46Bis kept in the pushing position H2 until the spring 46A returns to apredetermined state. Consequently, while each stopper 35 is arranged inthe inner position P2, the holding arms 44 can move the bobbin 10 in thedirection shown by the arrow Y.

When the spring 46A extends to the predetermined state, the pushingportion 46B moves in the direction shown by the arrow Y as shown in FIG.9. Since the inner surface of the bobbin 10 is in contact with thestoppers 35 at that time, each stopper 35 is held in the inner positionP2. Referring to FIG. 10, the body 42 is further moved in the directionshown by the arrow Y, so that the bobbin 10 can be removed from thebobbin fixing device 20.

According to the present embodiment, the pushing portion 46B continuesto push the release button 32 until the holding arms 44 moves the bobbin10 to the position where the bobbin 10 can arrange each stopper 35 inthe inner position P2. Advantageously, an operator does not have tooperate the release button 32. The bobbin 10 can be easily removed fromthe bobbin fixing device 20.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

A bobbin removing device according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The samecomponents and portions as those of the first embodiment are designatedby the same reference numerals and a detailed description thereof isomitted.

A bobbin fixing device 20 according to the present embodiment is thesame as that according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11, abobbin removing device 50 includes a body 52, holding arms 54, and amovement permitting member 56. The body 52 includes a shaft 52A and aflange 52B. The shaft 52A is disposed on the extension of a rotatingshaft 23 of the bobbin fixing device 20. The shaft 52A is movable alongthe axial direction of the rotating shaft 23. The shaft 52A includes acylindrical portion and a flange portion on the bottom of thecylindrical portion. The flange 52B is disposed on the bottom of theflange portion of the shaft 52A.

The flange 52B is disc-shaped. The holding arms 54 are attached to theedge of the flange 52B. Each holding arm 54 includes an attachingportion 54A and an outer-edge holding portion 55. Each attaching portion54A is attached to the flange 52B and is movable in the direction, shownby the arrow D, parallel to the upper surface of a flange 10A of abobbin 10. Each outer-edge holding portion 55 is L-shaped. One part ofeach L-shaped outer-edge holding portion 55 serves as holding part 55Athat is perpendicular to the flange 10A and the other part thereofserves as holding part 55B that is parallel to the attaching portion54A. Each holding part 55B has an inwardly downwardly sloping surface(slope S) which corresponds to part of the inner surface of the shape“L”.

Referring to FIG. 12, the movement permitting member 56 projects fromthe middle of the flange 52B such that a pushing portion 56A can push arelease button 32.

The relative positions of the pushing portion 56A and the outer-edgeholding portions 55 are determined so that when the outer-edge holdingportion 55 of each holding arm 54 is located in a holding position H1under the flange 10A of the bobbin 10 in the axial direction of therotating shaft 23, the pushing portion 56A is located in a pushingposition H2 where the pushing portion 56A pushes the release button 32downward.

Methods of attaching and removing the bobbin 10 using the bobbinremoving device 50 with the above-described structure will now bedescribed.

The method of attaching the bobbin 10 is the same as that according tothe first embodiment. To remove the bobbin 10, the bobbin removingdevice 50 is moved downward, i.e., in the X direction, thus arrangingthe outer-edge holding portion 55 of each holding arm 54 in the holdingposition H1. When the pushing portion 56A is located in the pushingposition H2, the downward movement of the bobbin removing device 50 isstopped (refer to FIG. 12). In this position, the end of the pushingportion 56A pushes the release button 32 in the X direction.Consequently, each stopper 35 is retracted to an inner position P2, sothat the bobbin 10 is movable in the Y direction.

Referring to FIG. 13, each outer-edge holding portion 55 is inwardlymoved in the direction shown by the arrow D while the pushing portion56A is kept in that position, thus clamping the flange 10A of the bobbin10. Since each holding part 55B has the slope S, the bobbin 10 slides onthe slope S toward the direction shown by the arrow Y. Then, the body 52is moved in the direction shown by the arrow Y. Referring to FIG. 14,the release button 32 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow Y.Since the bobbin 10 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow Y andeach stopper 35 is in contact with the inner surface of the bobbin 10,the stopper 35 is kept in the inner position P2. Accordingly, the body52 is further moved in the direction shown by the arrow Y, so that thebobbin 10 can be removed from the bobbin fixing device 20.

According to the present embodiment, while the pushing portion 56Apushes the release button 32, the slope S of each holding part 55Ballows the bobbin 10 to move to a position where the bobbin 10 canarrange each stopper 35 in the inner position P2. Advantageously, anoperator does not have to operate the release button 32. The bobbin 10can be easily removed from the bobbin fixing device 20.

1. A bobbin fixing device comprising: a rotating shaft to which a bobbinis attached; a positioning member which is in contact with a firstsurface of the attached bobbin to position the bobbin in the attachingdirection in which the bobbin is attached to the rotating shaft; andmovable members, each of which is movable between a projecting positionwhere the member projects from the level of the outer surface of therotating shaft and an inner position inside the level of the outersurface and is in contact with a second surface of the attached bobbinin the projecting position to restrict the movement of the bobbin in theremoving direction in which the bobbin is removed from the rotatingshaft.
 2. The bobbin fixing device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a release member attached to one end of the rotating shaft,the release member being movable in the axial direction of the rotatingshaft; and connecting members, each of which connects the correspondingmovable member to the release member so that the movable member movesbetween the projecting position and the inner position in response tothe movement of the release member in the axial direction.
 3. The bobbinfixing device according to Claim 1, wherein each movable member has anoutwardly downwardly sloping outer surface such that the height ofprojection increases toward the positioning member.
 4. The bobbin fixingdevice according to claim 2, further comprising: a biasing member thatbiases the release member away from the rotating shaft and allows eachmovable member to move to the projecting position; a release restrictingportion that restricts the movement of the release member away from therotating shaft; and projection restricting portions, each of whichrestricts the outward movement of the associated movable member from theprojecting position.
 5. A bobbin removing device comprising: a holdingmember movable in the axial direction of a rotating shaft of a bobbinfixing device while holding a bobbin attached to the rotating shaft, thebobbin fixing device including the rotating shaft to which the bobbin isattached and movable members, each movable member being movable betweena projecting position where the movable member projects from the levelof the outer surface of the rotating shaft and an inner position insidethe level of the outer surface and being in contact with a surface ofthe attached bobbin in the projecting position to restrict the movementof the bobbin in the removing direction in which the bobbin is removedfrom the rotating shaft; and a movement permitting member that allowseach movable member to move to the inner position and keeps the movablemember in the inner position until the holding member moves the bobbinin the removing direction by a predetermined distance.
 6. The bobbinremoving device according to claim 5, wherein the bobbin fixing deviceincludes a release member attached to one end of the rotating shaft suchthat the release member allows each movable member to move to the innerposition in response to the movement of the bobbin in the attachingdirection in which the bobbin is attached to the rotating shaft, and themovement permitting member includes a pushing portion for pushing therelease member in the attaching direction.
 7. The bobbin removing deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the movement permitting member is mountedon the holding member and is moved to a pushing position, where thepushing portion pushes the release member to arrange each movable memberin the inner position, in response to the movement of the holding memberto a holding position where the holding member holds the bobbin.
 8. Thebobbin removing device according to claim 7, wherein the holding memberincludes outer-edge holding portions capable of holding the outer-edgeof a flange of the bobbin in the holding position, and each outer-edgeholding portion has an inwardly downwardly sloping inner surface.
 9. Thebobbin removing device according to claim 7, wherein the movementpermitting member has an elastic member retractable in the axialdirection, one end of the elastic member being in contact with theholding member, the other end thereof being in contact with the pushingportion.
 10. The bobbin fixing device according to claim 2, wherein eachmovable member has an outwardly downwardly sloping outer surface suchthat the height of projection increases toward the positioning member.11. The bobbin fixing device according to claim 3, further comprising: abiasing member that biases the release member away from the rotatingshaft and allows each movable member to move to the projecting position;a release restricting portion that restricts the movement of the releasemember away from the rotating shaft; and projection restrictingportions, each of which restricts the outward movement of the associatedmovable member from the projecting position.
 12. The bobbin fixingdevice according to claim 10, further comprising: a biasing member thatbiases the release member away from the rotating shaft and allows eachmovable member to move to the projecting position; a release restrictingportion that restricts the movement of the release member away from therotating shaft; and projection restricting portions, each of whichrestricts the outward movement of the associated movable member from theprojecting position.